System and method for concurrent recording and displaying of system performance data

Abstract

A system and method for concurrently recording and displaying of system performance data. System statistical data which is useful in determining the overall performance of a data processing system is captured, displayed, and recorded for subsequent playback. Based on the modular design, real time data can be concurrently captured, displayed and recorded. Attributes of the data can also be modified concurrently with the capture and display of data. Previously recorded data can also be displayed while concurrently capturing and recording other/additional data. A user interface is provided to conveniently control the concurrent operations. The data being displayed can be manipulated by a user to resize, move and scroll data being displayed without disturbing the underlying capture and recording of data. When the user interactions terminate, the display screen reflects the changes made, without loss of data. Multiple categories of process data can be viewed on a single timeline graph.

We claim: 
     
       1. A process implemented by a computer system, having at least one host, a processor, memory, a display, and user controls, for concurrently displaying multiple views of a statistic to analyze the performance of said computer system, comprising the computer system implemented steps of: receiving by said processor an event-causing command from said user controls;   in response to receiving said event-causing command, generating by said processor an event on said host that produces said statistic;   receiving by said processor at least a first sampling interval command and a second sampling interval command from said user controls;   capturing by said processor first samples of said statistic at .said first sampling interval;   concurrently capturing by said processor second samples of said statistic at said second sampling interval; and   concurrently displaying by said processor said captured first and second samples on said display, thereby permitting a comparison of said first samples with said second samples of said statistic.   
     
     
       2. The process according to claim 1 further comprising the step of recording by a recording subsystem said captured first and second samples in said memory concurrently with said displaying of said captured first and second samples. 
     
     
       3. The process according to claim 1 wherein said first and second samples are displayed by said processor in a single console on said display. 
     
     
       4. The process according to claim 3 further comprising the step of displaying by said processor said first samples in a first instrument within said console and displaying said second samples in a second instrument within said console. 
     
     
       5. The process according to claim 4 further comprising the step of displaying by said processor a plurality of statistics in said first instrument, each of said statistics being sampled at said first sampling interval. 
     
     
       6. The process according to claim 1 further comprising displaying by said processor multiple consoles comprising captured statistics of differing sampling intervals. 
     
     
       7. The process according to claim 1 wherein said displaying step comprises the step of displaying by said processor said first and second samples according to a predefined presentation style. 
     
     
       8. The process according to claim 7 further comprising the steps of: receiving by said processor a modify-representation command form said user controls; and   dynamically changing said presentation style by said processor while said first and second samples are being displayed.   
     
     
       9. The process according to claim 1 wherein said first and second samples are displayed by said processor on said display in a time graph. 
     
     
       10. The process according to claim 9 further comprising the steps of: receiving by said processor a scrolling command from said user controls; and   scrolling said time graph backward or forward by said processor on said display.   
     
     
       11. The process according to claim 9 further comprising the step of dynamically switching said time graph to a state graph. 
     
     
       12. The process according to claim 9 wherein each of said first or second samples are superimposed one on another when displayed on said time graph by said processor as specified by said user controls of said computer system. 
     
     
       13. The process according to claim 1 wherein said first and second samples are displayed said processor on said display at the same time other live data is being displayed and recorded on said display. 
     
     
       14. The process according to claim 1 wherein said first and second samples are displayed concurrently by said processor in a plurality of instruments on said display at variable speeds. 
     
     
       15. The process according to claim 1 further comprising the step of erasing a part of said first or second samples by said processor as specified by said user controls of said computer system. 
     
     
       16. The process according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and second samples are displayed using differing styles by said processor as specified by said user controls of said computer system. 
     
     
       17. The process according to claim 1 wherein said first and second samples are displayed as a state graph by said processor as specified by said user controls of said computer system. 
     
     
       18. A computer system for concurrently displaying multiple views of a statistic to analyze the performance of said computer system, comprising: a processor;   at least one host;   user controls for receiving a plurality of commands;   means for generating by said processor an event on said host that produces said statistic in response to an event-causing command from said user controls;   means for capturing by said processor first samples of said statistic at a first sampling interval;   means for concurrently capturing by said processor second samples of said statistic at a second sampling interval; and   a display for concurrently displaying said first samples and said second samples, thereby permitting a comparison of said first samples with said second samples for said statistic.   
     
     
       19. The computer system according to claim 18 wherein said means for generating by said processor an event on said host comprises a network send/receive interface. 
     
     
       20. The computer system according to claim 18 wherein said display comprises a console having an instrument for displaying a plurality of statistics. 
     
     
       21. The computer system according to claim 20 wherein said console comprises multiple instruments for displaying captured samples of differing sampling intervals. 
     
     
       22. The computer system according to claim 21 wherein each of said plurality of statistics are displayed using differing graphical styles on said display by said computer system. 
     
     
       23. The computer system according to claim 18 wherein said processor displays said first and second samples at the same time other live data is being displayed and recorded on said display. 
     
     
       24. The computer system according to claim 18 wherein said first and second samples are displayed by said processor as a time graph. 
     
     
       25. The computer system according to claim 24 further comprising means for dynamically switching said time graph to a state graph. 
     
     
       26. The computer system according to claim 24 wherein each of said first or second samples are superimposed one on another by said processor when displayed on said time graph. 
     
     
       27. The computer system according to claim 18 further comprising means for scrolling said time graph backward or forward on said display. 
     
     
       28. The computer system according to claim 18 wherein said first or second samples are displayed by said processor concurrently in a plurality of instrument on said display. 
     
     
       29. The computer system according to claim 18 further comprising means for erasing a part of said first and second samples as specified by said user controls to said computer system. 
     
     
       30. The computer system according to claim 18 further comprising a recording subsystem for concurrently recording said first and second samples in a memory device when said first and second samples are being displayed on said display by said processor. 
     
     
       31. A process implemented by a computer system having at least one host, a display, processor, memory and user controls, for concurrently displaying multiple views of a first and second statistic to enable correlation between said first and second statistics, comprising the system implemented steps of: receiving by said processor at least a first and second event-causing command from said user controls;   in response to receiving said first event-causing command, generating by said processor a first event on said at least one host that produces said first statistic;   in response to receiving said second event-causing command, generating by said processor a second event of said at least one host that produces said second statistic;   receiving by said processor at least a first sampling interval command and a second sampling interval command from said user controls;   capturing first samples by said processor of said first statistic at a first sampling interval;   concurrently capturing by said processor second samples of said second statistic at a second sampling interval; and   concurrently displaying by said processor said first samples and said second samples on said display, thereby enabling correlation between said first and second statistic.   
     
     
       32. The process according to claim 31 further comprising the step of recording by a recording subsystem said captured first and second samples concurrently with said displaying of said captured first and second samples. 
     
     
       33. The process according to claim 32 further comprising the steps of capturing, displaying, and recording by said processor a third statistic on said display while said first and second samples are being recorded. 
     
     
       34. The process according to claim 31 further comprising the steps of capturing and displaying a third statistic by said processor on said display while said first and second samples are being displayed on said display. 
     
     
       35. The process according to claim 31 further comprising the step of deleting said first statistic while said second statistic is being captured as specified by said user controls. 
     
     
       36. The process according to claim 31 further comprising the step of displaying multiple instruments within a console on said display, wherein each of said instruments comprises samples from a plurality of statistics. 
     
     
       37. The process according to claim 31 wherein said first event is generated by said processor from a first host and said second even is generated from a second host of said computer system. 
     
     
       38. The process according to claim 31 wherein said first sampling interval is substantially equal to said second sampling interval. 
     
     
       39. A computer system for concurrently displaying multiple views of a first and second statistic, comprising: processor;   user controls for transmitting a plurality of commands to said processor;   means for generating by said processor said first statistic in response to a first generating command by said user controls;   means for generating by said processor said second statistic in response to a second generating command by said user controls;   in response to a first sampling-interval command by said user controls, means for capturing by said processor first samples of said first statistic at a first sampling interval;   in response to a second sampling-interval command by said user controls, means for second samples of said second statistic at a second sampling interval; and   a display for concurrently displaying said first samples and said second samples, thereby enabling correlation between said first and second statistics.   
     
     
       40. The computer system according to claim 39 wherein said means for generating by said processor said first statistic comprises means for causing an event on a first host. 
     
     
       41. The computer system according to claim 39 wherein said means for generating by said processor said second statistic comprises means for causing an event on a second host.